SolarReserve
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersSanta Monica, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What SolarReserve does
SolarReserve is a Santa Monica, California-based, venture-backed developer of utility-scale concentrated solar power (CSP) with integrated molten-salt thermal storage. Founded in 2007 and operating with 51-100 employees, the company has built its identity around advanced solar thermal storage technology that allows dispatchable renewable generation beyond daylight hours — a structural differentiator versus conventional photovoltaic generation. Its leadership team includes founder and president Terry Murphy, CTO William R. Gould, SVP of Development Alistair Jessop, and VP of Engineering & Technology Tim J. Connor, reflecting a project-development and engineering organization rather than a software or product company.
SolarReserve has raised approximately $203.4M in disclosed equity and grant funding across multiple rounds between 2008 and 2018, anchored by Citi, Citi Alternative Investments, Credit Suisse, Good Energies, Nimes Capital, Pacific Corporate Group, and US Renewables at the institutional level, with the US Department of Energy providing a $2M award in 2018. The firm's commercial model centers on developing, financing, building, and operating multi-hundred-million-dollar CSP plants, monetizing output through long-term utility power purchase agreements. This is a capital-intensive, project-based, and inherently lumpy revenue model with very high customer concentration at the project level.
The company has no AI, software, or recurring-revenue product surface in the input data, and there are no disclosed patents, trademarks, or formal partnerships. There is also a separate, distinct web property at solar-reserve.com (an educational solar-energy blog run by individuals named John and Dan), which appears to be an unrelated entity using a similarly named domain and should not be conflated with the CSP developer. SolarReserve's competitive position rests on proprietary thermal storage IP, regulatory and DOE relationships, and the ability to execute utility-scale projects — capabilities that are meaningful but increasingly under pressure from cheaper PV-plus-battery alternatives.
SolarReserve firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SolarReserve
- Legal name
- Solar-Reserve
- Website
- https://solar-reserve.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SolarReserve industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Concentrated Solar Power
- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Solar Thermal & CSP Systems (Collectors, Receivers, Thermal Storage, CSP EPC) (EUAMABAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- CSP Thermal Energy Storage & Heat Transfer Systems (Molten Salt, HTF, Receivers) (EUACAGAF), CSP Plant Development & EPC (Parabolic Trough, Tower, Linear Fresnel, Dish) (EUACAGAE), Concentrated Solar & Solar Fuels R&D (CSP Innovations, Thermochemical, Solar-to-Hydrogen) (EUAMAOAE), Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) EPC (EUAEAAAH)
Keywords
Where SolarReserve is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Monica
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
SolarReserve business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations
Revenue model
- Advertising/Sponsored Content: The website appears to generate revenue through advertising and potentially sponsored content, given its status as an informational blog with article-based content accessible to millions of readers from over 200 countries.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
SolarReserve product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SolarReserve develops and deploys utility-scale concentrated solar power (CSP) plants integrated with proprietary molten salt thermal energy storage technology. The company provides dispatchable, baseload renewable electricity generation that can produce power beyond daylight hours, targeting utilities, government agencies, and large power offtakers through long-term power purchase and EPC arrangements.
Product overview
SolarReserve operates as a single educational content platform—a blog website that publishes informational articles about solar energy, solar panel technologies, solar water heaters, solar street lights, and related renewable energy topics. The primary product offering is the Solar-Reserve blog itself, which serves as an informational resource covering various aspects of solar energy without a modular product architecture.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Utility-Scale Concentrated Solar Power Plants with Thermal Storage Turnkey utility-scale CSP power plants that combine heliostat fields, solar receiver towers, and molten salt thermal energy storage to deliver dispatchable renewable electricity on a 24-hour basis. Targeted at electric utilities, government power agencies, and large industrial power offtakers.
- Solar Thermal Energy Storage Technology Proprietary molten salt thermal energy storage system that captures and stores heat from concentrated solar radiation and dispatches it as electricity on demand. Designed to be integrated with utility-scale CSP plants to provide firm, dispatchable renewable generation.
- CSP Project Development and EPC Services End-to-end project development services covering site selection, permitting, engineering, procurement, construction management, financing, and offtake contracting for utility-scale concentrated solar power projects. Provided to utility offtakers, government agencies, and infrastructure investors.
Companies that use SolarReserve
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
SolarReserve technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
SolarReserve partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
SolarReserve competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BrightSource Energy: BrightSource Energy is a direct peer as a US-based developer of utility-scale concentrated solar power (CSP) and solar thermal tower technology. Like SolarReserve, it has historically pursued molten-salt or steam-based CSP for utility customers and pursued large-scale project finance from similar US/institutional backers.
- Acciona Energía: Acciona Energía is a major global developer and operator of concentrated solar power plants (e.g., Noor complexes in Morocco), making it one of the closest global peers to SolarReserve's CSP project development model.
- Abengoa Solar: Abengoa (via its solar/T&I division) developed multiple utility-scale CSP plants including parabolic trough technology and was an EPC contractor on SolarReserve-adjacent projects. Highly comparable as a CSP engineering and project development peer in the same technology category.
- SENER Aeroespacial & Solar Thermal: SENER developed the SENERtrough parabolic trough technology and supplied core CSP systems, including for prior SolarReserve-adjacent projects. Comparable as a CSP technology provider and direct counterpart in the molten-salt CSP value chain.
Broad incumbents
- Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure: Atlantica owns and operates concentrated solar power and other renewable assets via yieldco structures, including shares in Solana and other CSP plants. Comparable as a long-term owner/operator of dispatchable solar thermal assets similar to those SolarReserve develops.
- First Solar: First Solar is a leading US-based thin-film PV module manufacturer and utility-scale PV project developer. It is an adjacent rather than overlapping peer: same downstream customer segment (utilities/developers) but different technology (PV vs. CSP).
- NextEra Energy Resources: NextEra is the largest US renewable energy developer and IPP, with a portfolio that increasingly spans solar thermal, PV, and storage. Comparable as a broad incumbent solar energy developer competing for the same utility-scale offtakes.
- ENGIE Solar / ENGIE Renewables: ENGIE develops both PV and CSP utility-scale projects worldwide, including partnerships on thermal solar. Comparable as a large diversified renewable developer operating in adjacent solar thermal / utility-scale segments.
Others
- Coventry Capital / Fiera Infrastructure (Canadian Solar infra funds): Fiera Infrastructure invests in renewable energy projects globally including solar infrastructure. Comparable as a capital provider and infrastructure investor active in the same utility-scale solar asset class where SolarReserve develops projects.
- Solar Millennium (historical) / Flagsol: Flagsol (formerly part of Solar Millennium) was a CSP engineering and technology provider for parabolic trough plants. Comparable as a technology/EPC enabler historically involved in the same molten-salt CSP engineering space as SolarReserve.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SolarReserve social profiles
Digital presenceSolarReserve financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SolarReserve leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
SolarReserve funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors8 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SolarReserve M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SolarReserve
What does SolarReserve do?
SolarReserve develops and deploys utility-scale concentrated solar power (CSP) plants integrated with proprietary molten salt thermal energy storage technology. The company provides dispatchable, baseload renewable electricity generation that can produce power beyond daylight hours, targeting utilities, government agencies, and large power offtakers through long-term power purchase and EPC arrangements.
Is SolarReserve a public or private company?
SolarReserve is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was SolarReserve founded?
SolarReserve was founded in 2007. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is SolarReserve based?
SolarReserve is headquartered in Santa Monica, United States, in the North America region.
How does SolarReserve make money?
One revenue line is on record: advertising/Sponsored Content.
Who are SolarReserve's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BrightSource Energy, Acciona Energía, Abengoa Solar and SENER Aeroespacial & Solar Thermal. Broad incumbents are Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure, First Solar, NextEra Energy Resources and ENGIE Solar / ENGIE Renewables. Others are Coventry Capital / Fiera Infrastructure (Canadian Solar infra funds) and Solar Millennium (historical) / Flagsol.
Does SolarReserve have an API?
No public API is recorded for SolarReserve.
What industry is SolarReserve in?
SolarReserve's product category is Concentrated Solar Power. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMABAL, Solar Thermal & CSP Systems (Collectors, Receivers, Thermal Storage, CSP EPC), with a secondary code of EUACAGAF, CSP Thermal Energy Storage & Heat Transfer Systems (Molten Salt, HTF, Receivers). Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 4911.